Looks like he will mostly be used in the bull pen, but could get some starts depending on how long J. Williams is out. I personally see him being a closer down the road, but still someone to look at in keepers (if you don't draft minor league prospects).

I have him in a keeper league already, got him as my last pick in the rookie draft. I hoped he'd be a starter but if he can stay healthy as a successful closer I guess I'd take that too. Why not give him a shot, Herges doesn't seem to be able to do it very well.

He’ll be used in relief. With Jerome on the DL, they’ll probably send Ransom down to the minors and recall Lowry.

Valdez was recently moved into the closers position down on the farm, but they still might see if they can make a starter out of him. Since Aardsma wasn’t traded, he is still considered to be the future Giants closer.

TownDrunk wrote:Their best interest? Why would it be in their best interest? They have Aardsma who has a good arm and will turn into a pretty good closer one day. I’d rather they keep Valdez as a starter.

Until Aardsma can show improved control he is not going to be closing in the majors. The Giants need relief help now. If Merkin tears it up in relief this season, it would be wise to give him a shot a closing games. The Giants are going to need to relook their closer situation next season and it would be easy if they could simply insert a solid, cheap alternative.

However, it is still very possible that Valdez will return to being a starter. Grooming prize arms in relief before letting them start games in the majors seems to be a new trend in the majors.

It was obvious that Aardsma wasn’t ready this season, but down the line, he should be ready to go. The kid really does have a good arm.

Yes, the Giants do need relief now, and Valdez can help, I’m not disputing that. However, it should be in their best interest to keep him as a starter. Aardsma is waiting in the wings and being groomed to be the future closer, so why hand it to Valdez? Look at it this way, down the line, the Giants could possibly have a rotation of Schmidt, Williams, Foppert, Cain, and Valdez. That aint too shabby.

TownDrunk wrote:Their best interest? Why would it be in their best interest? They have Aardsma who has a good arm and will turn into a pretty good closer one day. I’d rather they keep Valdez as a starter.

Until Aardsma can show improved control he is not going to be closing in the majors. The Giants need relief help now. If Merkin tears it up in relief this season, it would be wise to give him a shot a closing games. The Giants are going to need to relook their closer situation next season and it would be easy if they could simply insert a solid, cheap alternative.

However, it is still very possible that Valdez will return to being a starter. Grooming prize arms in relief before letting them start games in the majors seems to be a new trend in the majors.

agreed ...

any thoughts on how Lowry will do. It looks like he has the Job for the next 2-4 weeks, and maybe we could get a few solid starts out of him ... He was a former number one if I remember correctly

Psst, sleeper alert Lowry should do pretty well. Both Alou and Sabean wanted him in the rotation for the 2nd half, but I don't think at the expense of Williams. He has showed that he is ready. In his last start in the bigs, I believed he struck out 9 and only allowed 2 ER. If you're looking for a sleeper pitcher, here is he is.